Since its inception in 1998, PennFuture has emphasized the importance of using the law to protect Pennsylvania’s environment and “create a just future where nature, communities, and the economy thrive.” 

Over the past two decades, we have achieved significant legal and policy victories that reduce pollution and protect the environment and our communities. We have provided millions of dollars in pro bono legal services while setting critical precedents and enforcing environmental laws across the Commonwealth. 

But as PennFuture looks forward to the next 20 years, we recognize that we need to be more involved with cultivating the people that will continue to support our mission. Our staff have a long history of mentoring interns, externs, and fellows, and we wanted to create a more formal program to inspire the next generation.  
With the generous support of the George and Miriam Martin Foundation and the Otto Haas Charitable Trust, PennFuture created a paid legal internship program to inspire and mentor students interested in making a difference for our environment.  

Ultimately, the goal of this program is to provide the organization a cadre of young legal and policy minds interested in taking on the myriad challenges impacting Pennsylvania as well as to further their potential environmental careers. We’ve seen success on this front as many of our legal interns have found work in the Pennsylvania environmental legal space. We also hope that providing for a funded internship will help to bring more diversity and inclusivity into the non-profit environmental advocacy sphere.  

Over the past five years, our interns have made it possible for PennFuture’s legal team to do more, faster, and better! They have supported our litigation efforts against water polluters and fracked-gas facilities, they have drafted comments in support of stronger regulatory protections across the Commonwealth, and they have helped our attorneys strategize and execute impactful legal actions. We are grateful for all of the hard work, passion, and dedication of our legal interns.  

 
This fall, we have two fantastic students, including a returning intern, joining us who bring their unique backgrounds and experiences to our mission. We’ve asked our interns to explain, in their own words, what environmental law and PennFuture’s mission means to them: 

Ayah Manalastas, Third-Year Student at Penn State Dickinson Law 

As a returning legal intern, coming back to PennFuture offered a unique opportunity to build on last semester’s foundation and deepen my knowledge as I continue to explore the intersection of energy and environmental law. My spring internship opened my eyes to the complexity of these issues, and I realized there was so much more to learn. Motivated by this realization and the sweeping effects of the policy changes from the new administration, I was eager to return and contribute my skills to the organization during a dynamic and challenging time for energy and environmental advocacy. 

My several years of experience in energy law makes me well-suited to support PennFuture as it navigates new challenges in this field, particularly with issues involving large load integration and the growing impact of data centers. I am grateful for the invaluable support and mentorship I have received from the legal team and look forward to supporting PennFuture’s mission of protecting the Commonwealth’s natural resources, promoting sound public policy, and advancing a sustainable clean energy economy. 

Henry Pryor, Second-Year Student at Penn State Dickinson Law 

Growing up in Southern California, environmental issues are everywhere. Widespread smog, droughts, and wildfires all plague the Los Angeles basin regularly. Spending many weekends and every summer outdoors, I knew I wanted my career to be spent fighting to protect our natural world.  

In college, I majored in Environmental Thought and Practice, which deepened my interest in environmental issues, particularly the legal and policy aspects that affect our natural world. At Penn State Dickinson Law, I serve as president of the Environmental Law Society, and I hope that in this role, I can encourage more students to pursue the critical field of environmental law. 

This fall, I am thrilled to be part of the team at PennFuture, where I can contribute to advancing environmental policy and protecting communities and natural spaces in my new home state of Pennsylvania.